Jake Finch

James David "Jake" Finch Jr.^[1] (born June 16, 2005) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes part-time in the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series, driving the No. 9 Chevrolet SS for JR Motorsports. He also competes part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 15 Toyota for Nitro Motorsports. He has previously competed in the ARCA Menards Series East, and the ARCA Menards Series West.

Racing career

Finch began racing go-karts at a young age. In 2020, he would drive in three late model races for Anthony Campi Racing and would win in his first start after dominating the race and leading the most laps. In his next two starts, he would finish second.^[2] Phoenix Racing, the former NASCAR Cup Series team owned by Finch's father James that was sold to Turner Scott Motorsports co-owner Harry Scott Jr. in 2013, would re-open its doors and Finch would drive in several late model races with them in 2021.^[3] He entered the SRL Southwest Tour in 2022 for the same team, finishing 22nd and 23rd in his first two starts.^[4]

ARCA Menards Series

On March 15, 2022, Phoenix Racing announced that Finch would be making his ARCA Menards Series East debut for the team in their No. 1 car at Five Flags Speedway. It would be the first time since 2013 that Phoenix Racing would compete in a NASCAR-sanctioned race.^[5] On April 26, 2022, Finch would sign with Venturini Motorsports for one race in the ARCA Menards Series East (at Dover driving the No. 25), and one race in the ARCA Menards Series (at Pocono driving the No. 55).^[6] Finch would return to his family team and the No. 1 car for the East Series race at Nashville. He would start on the pole, lead 44 laps, and finish second in the race. In both of his East Series races for Phoenix Racing, Finch drove an unbadged Toyota.^[7][8] He finished sixth in the East Series standings despite running a partial schedule. He also raced in two ARCA Menards Series West races for Phoenix Racing, finished in the top-ten in both races.

In 2023, Finch once again ran a partial schedule between the main ARCA series and the East Series, splitting between Venturini Motorsports and Phoenix Racing. At the East Series race at Dover, Finch, driving for Venturini Motorsports, would hold off Landen Lewis in a side-by-side battle on the final restart to earn his first career ARCA Menards Series East win. Finch would also dominate the race, leading a race-high 89 laps.^[9]

In 2024, Finch returned to Venturini on a partial schedule, with his first start coming at Daytona International Speedway.^[10][11] At Daytona, he led the most laps and was involved in a multi-car crash while leading on the final lap.^[12] In his next race at Talladega Superspeedway, he led every lap of the race to earn his first career ARCA Menards Series win. It was the first Talladega race in series history where a driver led every lap to win the race.^[13][14]

Finch remained with Venturini in 2025.^[15][16] He was originally scheduled to compete at Michigan International Speedway, but withdrew due to illness and was replaced by Corey Heim.^[17]

On January 13, 2026, it was announced that Finch will drive for Nitro Motorsports at Daytona and Talladega.^[18]

NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series

On April 16, 2025, Dale Earnhardt Jr. revealed on The Dale Jr. Download that Finch would make his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut during the season, driving the No. 17 for Hendrick Motorsports.^[19] On July, the team confirmed Finch would make his debut at Dover.^[20]

On March 25, 2026, it was announced that Finch will drive the No. 9 for JR Motorsports in five races.^[21]

Personal life

Jake's father, James Finch, is the owner of the former NASCAR Cup Series team, Phoenix Racing. He also runs an airport construction company, Phoenix Construction.^[3] Before Jake started racing, he was an active baseball player for his local school.^[2] He attended A. Crawford Mosley High School and graduated in the class of 2023.^[5]

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

O'Reilly Auto Parts Series

ARCA Menards Series

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led. ** – All laps led.)

ARCA Menards Series East

ARCA Menards Series West

CARS Super Late Model Tour

(key)

ASA STARS National Tour

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led. ** – All laps led.)

References

1. ^ "@jamessfinch (Twitter account)". Twitter. Retrieved May 8, 2022.^{[better source needed]}
2. ^ Seelman, Jacob (October 8, 2020). "Jake Finch Stepping Up The Ladder With Campi". Speed Sport. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
3. ^ "Phoenix Racing Rises From The Ashes". Speed Sport. December 31, 2020. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
4. ^ "Jake Finch Travels Cross Country". SRL Southwest Tour. January 31, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
5. ^ "Jake Finch Making ARCA East Debut at Five Flags". Racing America. March 15, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
6. ^ "Jake Finch joins Venturini Motorsports for two races on ARCA platform". ARCA. April 26, 2022.
7. ^ "Race Highlights: Pensacola 200 at Five Flags Speedway". ARCARacing.com. March 19, 2022. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
8. ^ "Race Highlights: Music City 200 at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway". ARCARacing.com. May 7, 2022. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
9. ^ Branscum, Benjamine (April 29, 2023). "The Phoenix Rises: Jake Finch Takes First Career ARCA Win In Thriller Finish at Dover". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
10. ^ Kristl, Mark (December 4, 2023). "Jake Finch Running ARCA Daytona Race". Fronstretch
11. ^ "Jake Finch returns to Venturini Motorsports for expanded ARCA Menards Series schedule". ARCARacing.com. January 8, 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
12. ^ Branscum, Benjamine (February 17, 2024). "‘This Is Everything’ Gus Dean Takes Home A Wild ARCA Season Opener At Daytona". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
13. ^ Branscum, Benjamine (April 20, 2024). "The Phoenix Rises, Jake Finch Finds Redemption, Dominates At Talladega". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
14. ^ Calloni, Josh (April 20, 2024). "Jake Finch Dominates, Wins ARCA Race at Talladega". Frontstretch.com. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
15. ^ Srigley, Joseph (January 8, 2025). "Jake Finch Returns to Venturini for Six ARCA Races". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
16. ^ "Jake Finch back with Venturini Motorsports for six ARCA events in 2025". ARCA Racing.com. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
17. ^ DeGroot, Nick (June 6, 2025). "Corey Heim to make surprise ARCA start, filling in for Jake Finch". Motorsport.com. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
18. ^ "Jake Finch joins Nitro Motorsports for ARCA events at Daytona and Talladega". ARCA Racing. January 13, 2026.
19. ^ Howard, Jonathan (April 18, 2025). "Dale Earnhardt Jr. sparks speculation over Hendrick Xfinity Series plans after Rajah Caruth, Jake Finch name drops". On3.com. On3.com. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
20. ^ Christie, Toby (July 14, 2025). "XFINITY: Jake Finch to Make Series Debut at Dover With Hendrick". Racing America On SI. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
21. ^ Quesinberry, Landon (24 February 2026). "Jake Finch Running 5 Races With JRM". frontstretch.com
22. ^ "Jake Finch – 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
23. ^ "Jake Finch – 2022 ARCA Menards Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
24. ^ "Jake Finch – 2023 ARCA Menards Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
25. ^ "Jake Finch – 2024 ARCA Menards Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
26. ^ "Jake Finch – 2025 ARCA Menards Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
27. ^ "Jake Finch – 2026 ARCA Menards Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media. Retrieved February 14, 2026.
28. ^ "Jake Finch – 2022 ARCA Menards Series East Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
29. ^ "Jake Finch – 2023 ARCA Menards Series East Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
30. ^ "Jake Finch – 2024 ARCA Menards Series East Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
31. ^ "Jake Finch – 2025 ARCA Menards Series East Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media. Retrieved April 19, 2025.
32. ^ "Jake Finch – 2022 ARCA Menards Series West Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
33. ^ "Jake Finch – 2023 ARCA Menards Series West Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
34. ^ "Jake Finch – 2024 ARCA Menards Series West Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
35. ^ "Jake Finch – 2025 ARCA Menards Series West Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media. Retrieved November 1, 2025.
36. ^ "Jake Finch – 2021 CARS Pro Late Model Tour Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
37. ^ "Jake Finch - 2023 Season Results - ASA STARS National Tour". The Third Turn. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
38. ^ "Jake Finch - 2024 Season Results - ASA STARS National Tour". The Third Turn. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
39. ^ "Jake Finch - 2025 Season Results - ASA STARS National Tour". The Third Turn. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
40. ^ "Jake Finch - 2026 Season Results - ASA STARS National Tour". The Third Turn. Retrieved February 19, 2026.